October 13, 2020

Dear Campus Community,

After careful consideration, the faculty’s Academic Policies Committee has approved a revised academic calendar for spring 2021. The calendar includes the following modifications, which were made in order to promote the health and safety of the Furman community, while maintaining the academic integrity of the semester:

• A delayed start of about one week, which allows time for evaluating the severity of the 2021 flu season and COVID-19 conditions, and for including an on-campus May Experience. The details for the May Experience calendar are still under consideration.  We will continue to study the viability of international travel and will determine later whether we can conduct May Experience study away programs as conditions evolve.
• Spring break has been removed since extended travel opportunities pose health and safety risks for our campus community.
• In response to faculty, staff, and student feedback this fall, in addition to keeping one of the April student holidays, another one-day break in instruction has been included in March. A virtual Furman Engaged! day has also been retained in the new calendar.
• The spring semester will end at its normal time, and Commencement for the Class of 2021 will be held as previously scheduled on Saturday, May 8.

View a detailed comparison of the original and new spring calendars. We are grateful for the thoughtful attention of our colleagues on the Academic Policies Committee. Please contact Provost@Furman.edu with any questions or concerns.

Best wishes,

Ken Peterson
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
provost@furman.edu